Partnering to address social determinants of health: Screening older adults through healthcare and aging services collaboration

Community-based aging resources are instrumental in meeting older adults' social needs but often are overlooked and under-utilized. This exploratory intervention study evaluated partnership between primary care and an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to address social determinants of health (SDH) and reduce healthcare utilization. Medicare patients (n = 385, M(age) = 72.5; 89.6% White) were screened for SDH needs during annual primary care visits and warm-referred to AAA supports. Most patients (73.8%) reported unmet SDH needs. Logistic regression analyses revealed significant associations between unmet SDH needs and primary (p = 0.003) and complex (p = 0.004) care visits, as well as medical acuity (p < 0.001). Findings suggest many older adults have unmet SDH needs, which warrant further policy or process changes to promote effective resource utilization and enhance support for a growing aging population. Strengthening community partnerships in healthcare is essential for meeting these needs.